The monks in the monastery belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has been accused of having links to Russia
. The dispute surrounding the property, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, is part of a wider religious conflict that has unfolded in parallel with the war.
The monks have resisted a government order to leave the compound by March 29. The government claims that the monks violated their lease by making alterations to the historic site and other technical infractions. The monks rejected the claim as a pretext. Third-year seminary student David, 21, disagreed. Dressed in a priest’s robes and with a Ukrainian flag draped round his shoulders, he insisted the Lavra priests and residents were in no way pro-Russian. The state, he said, was trying to evict hundreds of people from Lavra without a court order.
Bartholomew I is considered the first among equals among the leaders of the Eastern Orthodox churches. Patriarch Kirill and most other Orthodox patriarchs have refused to accept his decision authorizing the second Ukrainian church. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said during a Saturday visit to the military headquarters overseeing the action in Ukraine that Russia’s defence industries have boosted production of ammunition “by several times.” Russian’s government previously acknowledged ammunition shortages.
“Gerasimov’s tenure has been characterized by an effort to launch a general winter offensive with the aim of extending Russian control over the whole of the Donbas region,” the British ministry said on Twitter. “Eighty days on, it is increasingly apparent that this project has failed.”
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine asks court to put Orthodox leader under house arrestUkraine's top security agency notified a top Orthodox priest Saturday that he was suspected of justifying Russia's aggression amid a bitter dispute over a famed Orthodox monastery.
Read more »
Ukrainian cleric in court amid dispute over Kyiv monasteryUkraine's top security agency notified a top Orthodox priest Saturday that he was suspected of justifying Russia's aggression amid a bitter dispute over a famed Orthodox monastery.
Read more »
Ottawa’s lack of military aid for Ukraine in new budget raises concernUkrainian Canadian advocacy group says more aid is needed to help win war against Russia
Read more »
Langford team sending more supplies to UkraineA humanitarian team from Langford, B.C., is sending much needed school supplies and rescue equipment to Ukraine.
Read more »
Ukraine, Finland looking for Canadian help to rebuild economy amid war: ambassadorsUkraine's ambassador to Canada is urging Canadian businesses to see her country's eventual recovery as an economic bonanza worth investing in.
Read more »
Russia bombards several areas of Ukraine as country marks grim Bucha anniversaryUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Bucha stands as a symbol of the atrocities the Russian military has committed since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022
Read more »